Grapevine named &#39;Solbrio&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of table grape ( Vitis vinifera  L.) named ‘Solbrio,’ particularly characterized by its black skin color of crisp textured and naturally large sized berries; consistent fruit production on spur-pruned vines; and maturing during late July in California&#39;s Central San Joaquin Valley.

Latin name of genus and species of the plant claimed: ‘Solbrio’ is a newgrapevine plant that is Vitis vinifera L.

Variety denomination:

The new grapevine plant claimed is of the cultivar denomination‘Solbrio’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of tablegrape (Vitis vinifera L.) known as Vitis vinifera L. and herein referredto as ‘Solbrio,’ as herein described and illustrated.

‘Solbrio’ is particularly characterized by its black skin color of crisptextured and naturally large sized berries; consistent fruit productionon spur-pruned vines; and maturing during late July in California'sCentral San Joaquin Valley.

The new cultivar is a result of a controlled pollination, conducted bythe inventor in Parlier, Calif. The objective of the plannedhybridization was to develop a new V. vinifera cultivar having adesirable combination of characteristics that would facilitate thecultivation of the table grape for producers and satisfy consumers withfruit of high eating quality such as firm, crisp flesh and sweet neutralflavor.

The new and distinct variety of grape plant originated from ahand-pollinated cross of ARS selection B55-70 (non-patented) x ARSselection C49-3 (non-patented) made in 2004 in Parlier, Calif. B55-70 isa black-skinned seedless grape selection with average skin thickness,flesh firmness and berry size that typically ripens in mid-September inthe Central San Joaquin Valley. It has a noticeable seed trace, makingit suitable as a seed parent for seedless x seedless ovule culture. Thepollen parent, C49-3, is characterized as having black skin with a largeberry size, firm flesh, and a very small seed trace. C49-3 typicallyripens a week prior to B55-70. Both parents of ‘Solbrio’ are hybrids ofthe grape genus and species Vitis vinifera L. Immature seed resultingfrom the controlled hybridization of B55-70 x C49-3 were harvestedapproximately six weeks after pollination and established in vitro,eventually germinating in the laboratory during the fall of 2004.Resulting seedlings were planted in the spring of 2005 in Parlier,Calif. Seedlings from the controlled hybridization began fruiting duringthe summer of 2006 and one, designated ‘Solbrio,’ was identified for itsearly ripening attractive black seedless fruit with firm, crisp fleshand neutral flavor, and selected for propagation and evaluation.

During 2007, the original selected plant ‘Solbrio’ was propagatedasexually by rooting hardwood cuttings during the dormant period and atest plot of 27 vines was established in the Parlier, Calif. vineyard.All asexually propagated plants of ‘Solbrio’ have been observed to growtrue to type after propagation, in both vegetative and fruitingcharacteristics, as compared with the original selected mother vine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following combination of traits have been observed annually onfruiting ‘Solbrio’ vines and are determined to be unique characteristicsof ‘Solbrio,’ distinguishing it as a new and distinct cultivar: 1.Consistent and productive bearer of large-sized berries without the useof gibberellic acid bloom or sizing sprays. 2. Early-season fruitharvest, typically during the last week of July, in the Central SanJoaquin Valley of California. 3. Consistent and productive bearer offruit from spur-pruned vines. 4. Mature berries having an attractiveblack skin with crisp and crunchy flesh texture and a sweet neutralflavor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew ‘Solbrio’ table grape cultivar at nine years of age, showing thecolors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions ofthis type. Colors in the photos may differ slightly from the colorvalues cited in the detailed botanical description, which accuratelydescribe the color of ‘Solbrio.’ The colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedure.

FIG. 1 shows dormant mature canes of ‘Solbrio’ with their naturalcoloration. The smooth surface texture of the mature canes is alsoevident.

FIG. 2 shows the lower half of a ‘Solbrio’ trunk. Natural coloration ofthe trunk bark, both undisturbed and sun-bleached as well as afterhaving the shaggy bark stripped from the trunk, are evident in thefigure

FIG. 3 depicts the curvature in young shoot tips of ‘Solbrio.’ Alsoevident from this figure are the glabrous upper surfaces of young leavesand the red streaking of young stem internodes and tendril tips on sunexposed surfaces.

FIG. 4 shows the general cuneiform 5-lobe leaf shape of a ‘Solbrio’mature leaf. Also evident from this figure are the glabrous upper leafsurface, the Lyre-shaped half open petiole sinus and the serrated leafmargin having both sides strait and both sides convex.

FIG. 5 shows the typical crop load for ‘Solbrio’ from a spur prunedvine. Evident in this figure are the abundant bloom present on ‘Solbrio’berries and the trunk color after shaggy bark has been removed.

FIG. 6 shows the general conical shape of ‘Solbrio’ fruit clusters. Alsoevident in this figure are the medium berry density of mature fruitclusters, the smooth and glabrous texture of the peduncle and theabundant bloom present on the elliptic berries.

FIG. 7 shows 12 berries of ‘Solbrio’ in profile. Evident from thisfigure is the smooth surface texture of the elliptic shaped berries withthe bloom removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The new ‘Solbrio’ grapevine has not been observed growing under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar mayvary with variations in environment (temperature extremes, degree houraccumulation, light intensity and availability, soil type & fertility)without any genotypic changes in the grapevine.

The previously mentioned figures along with the following measuredcharacters describe the vegetative and reproductive organs of ‘Solbrio’as grown in Parlier, Calif. under cultural conditions closelyapproximating those generally used in commercial table grape production.The description is believed to apply to vines of the new ‘Solbrio’cultivar grown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.However, measurements of any individual vine or group of vines of thenew ‘Solbrio’ cultivar may vary from the stated averages.

In a comparison with parental accessions B55-70 (seed parent) and C49-3(pollen parent), the new cultivar ‘Solbrio’ differs primarily in thecharacters listed below in Table 1:

TABLE 1 SEED NEW POLLEN PARENT CULTIVAR PARENT CHARACTER B55-70 SolbrioC49-3 RIPENING Mid Late Early TIME September July September SEED TRACEDetectable Non- Non- SIZE Detectable Detectable EATING QUALITY AverageVery good Average FRUITFULNESS Average High Average PEDICLE AverageAverage Robust THICKNESS

Of the many commercial table grape cultivars known to the inventor, themost similar in comparison to the new cultivar ‘Solbrio’ is ‘SummerRoyal’. The new cultivar ‘Solbrio’ is compared with ‘Summer Royal’ usingUPOV descriptors for the nine phenological, vegetative and fruitcharacters listed below in Table 2.

TABLE 2 NEW COMMERCIAL UPOV UPOV CULTIVAR CULTIVAR CHARACTER CODESolbrio Summer Royal TIME OF BUD BURST 1 Early* Medium SHOOT: LENGTH 17Very long Long OF TENDRIL MATURE LEAF: PROFILE 21 Flat V-shaped IN CROSSSECTION MATURE LEAF: DEPTH OF 24 Very Medium UPPER LATERAL SINUSESshallow MATURE LEAF: SHAPE OF 25 Open Slightly UPPER LATERAL SINUSESoverlapped ANTHOCYANIN 31 Absent Very strong COLORATION OF MAIN VEINS ONMATURE LEAF UPPER SURFACE BUNCH: SIZE 36 Medium Large BUNCH: LENGTH OF38 Short Medium PEDUNCLE BERRY SHAPE 40 Elliptic Circular *Descriptorsof UPOV characters for ‘Solbrio’ and ‘Summer Royal’ as referenced in‘Guidelines for the conduct of tests for distinctness, uniformity andstability. Grapevine (Vitis L.)’ TG/50/8, Grapevine, 1999 Mar. 24.

Morphological details of the new ‘Solbrio’ table grape cultivar werecollected during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons when vines were eightand nine years old, respectively. Evaluated vines were grown on theirown roots. Twenty-seven own rooted vines of ‘Solbrio’ were available forcollection of data for the detailed description presented below. Colorcode designations are provided by reference to Dictionary of Color, A.Maerz and M. R. Paul, McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., (1930). Thisdescription is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations,color descriptions and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate fromthe stated values and descriptions depending upon variation inenvironmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions.

-   Mature canes:    -   -   Size.—Diameter — Mature dormant canes — Medium diameter,            medium vigor, semi-drooping in growth habit.        -   Mature canes.—Diameter — Internode Base — approximately 10.7            mm.        -   Mature canes.—Diameter — Internode Midpoint — approximately            9.0 mm.        -   Mature canes.—Diameter — Internode Tip — approximately 3.8            mm.        -   Mature canes.—Diameter — Node Base — approximately 12.7 mm.        -   Mature canes.—Diameter — Node Midpoint — approximately 10.8            mm.        -   Mature canes.—Diameter— Node Tip — approximately 5.6 mm.        -   Internode length.—Base — Approximately 7.3 cm.        -   Internode length.—Midpoint — Approximately 11.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—Tip — Approximately 5.9 cm.        -   Average length of canes.—Approximately 338 cm, range 241            cm-487 cm.        -   Average number of nodes/cane.—Approximately 41, range 30-61.        -   Surface texture.—Smooth. (FIG. 1).        -   Color of mature cane.—Plate 14 C8 (Mocha bisque).        -   Shape of mature cane.—Round.-   Dormant buds:    -   -   Bud color.—Plate 15 C11 (Cocoa brown) Bud.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Dormant bud (compound bud or eye).—Width — At base of cane            approximately 5.0 mm; at midpoint of cane approximately 5.8            mm and at tip of cane approximately 4.4 mm. The average            number of buds on a current, single-season growth cane is            approximately 41. Date of bud break. — approximately 1 March            2016.-   Vine:    -   -   Size.—Medium. Grapevine size was determined on grapevines            growing on a three cross arm ‘T’ trellis with the top cross            arm approximately 122 cm long, being set approximately 193            cm above the ground; the middle cross arm approximately 107            cm long, being set approximately 161 cm above the ground;            and the lower cross arm approximately 91 cm long, being set            approximately 128 cm above the ground.-   Trunk:    -   -   Size.—Medium.        -   Size.—Height — Approximately 103 cm above the soil surface,            ranging from 79-124 cm.        -   Size.—Trunk cross sectional area — Approximately 82.1 cm²            (ranging from 46-118 cm²) as measured at 66 cm above the            soil surface.        -   Bark.—Color — Undisturbed appearance after sun-bleaching in            the vineyard. Plate 56 E3. Appearance after shaggy            sun-bleached bark has been stripped from trunk. Plate 7 A11            (Vandyke Brown) (FIG. 2).-   Shoots:    -   -   Young shoot tips.—Unopened meristematic leaves are covered            with white felty indument. Red coloration (Plate 7 J4) is            evident in teeth on young leaf margins and in young tendril            tips.        -   Diameter of young shoots in spring.—(measured when shoot            length is approximately 10-14 inches). At base approximately            6.4 mm, at midpoint approximately 5.5 mm and at tip            approximately 3.2 mm.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 6.5 cm at 4^(th) internode            from base.        -   Young shoots.—Color. Plate 21 L8 with slight red streaking            on sun exposed side.        -   Interstem of shoot tip.—Color Plate 20 L9 (Eden Green) with            slight red streaking on sun exposed side (FIG. 3).        -   Shoot shape.—Generally slightly curved at tip.        -   Shoot tip.—Form Fully open.-   Leaves: Mature.    -   -   Size.—Leaves simple and alternate. The mid vein (L1) is            approximately 15.5 cm long, vein L2 is approximately 12.4 cm            long and vein L3 is approximately 8.2 cm long. The angles            between leaf veins are as follows: L1/L2 is approximately 40            degrees, L1/L3 is approximately 82 degrees and L1/1^(st)            vein departing from L3 is approximately 124 degrees.        -   Average blade length.—Approximately 15.5 cm.        -   Average blade width.—Approximately 16.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Cuneiform (FIG. 4).        -   Lobe number.—Approximately 5.        -   Color.—Upper surface Plate 23 E11 (Monticello Green) Upper            surface is glabrous and generally smooth.        -   Color.—Lower surface Plate 21 L8. Lower surface is glabrous            with few short erect hairs on sides of leaf veins at            junction of petiole and leaf blade.        -   Leaf vein.—Color (as apparent on lower leaf surface) Plate            18 H4. No red pigmentation on veins of leaf.        -   Leaf vein.—Thickness L1 vein thickness at center of leaf is            approximately 1.74 mm.        -   Leaf margin.—Serrated with teeth shape being a mixture of            both sides strait and both sides convex. Mature leaf teeth            are generally short to medium in length.        -   Petiole sinus.—Lyre shaped and half open. On mature leaves,            sinus depth is approximately 3.7 cm and 3.6 cm at its widest            point.        -   Petiole size.—Medium.        -   Petiole diameter.—Approximately 3.1 mm.        -   Petiole length.—Approximately 12.2 cm.        -   Petiole color.—Plate 18 L8 (Eve green).-   Young leaves:    -   -   Color.—Upper surface Plate 14 L1 (Palmleaf) Upper surface is            glabrous.        -   Color.—Lower surface Plate 23 L3 (Hellebore Green) Lower            surface is glabrous with few short erect hairs on sides of            leaf veins at junction of petiole and leaf blade.        -   Shape unfolded.—Concave.        -   Petiole.—Color Plate 20 L7 with slight red striping along            length of petiole.        -   Stipules.—Paper-like and diminutive.-   Tendrils:    -   -   Tendril size.—Length — approximately 28.4 cm.        -   Tendril size.—Diameter — as measured just distil of first            fork juncture of tendril, approximately 2.41 mm.        -   Tendril shape.—Usually trifurcated and curled on distil            ends.        -   Tendril pattern.—Beginning with first tendrils found on            nodes 7 and 8, followed by tendrils occurring on nodes 10,            11, 13, 14, 16, 17, with this intermittent pattern repeating            to the distil end of the cane.        -   Young tendril color.—Plate 19 L6 (Calliste Green).-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower size.—Medium.        -   Unopened flower.—Length — Approximately 3.44 mm.        -   Unopened flower.—Diameter — Approximately 1.91 mm.        -   Unopened flower.—Surface texture — smooth.        -   Date of bloom.—First bloom — About 20 Apr. 2016.        -   Date of bloom.—Full bloom — About 28 Apr. 2016 at 80%.        -   Inflorescence.—Panicle.        -   Cluster size.—During bloom — generally medium.        -   Cluster length.—Approximately 12.8 cm.        -   Cluster width.—Approximately 5.9 cm.        -   Peduncle length.—Approximately 4.4 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—The immature peduncle is not round, but            is essentially angular, creating two distinct sides. Small            side diameter is approximately 3.09 mm, large side diameter            is approximately 4.12 mm and the large side:small side            diameter ratio is approximately 1.33.        -   Shape of cluster.—Generally conical.        -   Calyptra color.—Plate 19 K8.        -   Sex.—Hermaphroditic.        -   Stamens.—Five per flower and erect.        -   Ovary color.—Plate 20 J11.        -   Pollen.—Normal, fertile, abundant.        -   Anthers.—Color — Plate 10 I1 (Reed Yellow).-   Fruit:    -   -   Maturity when described.—Ripe for commercial harvesting and            shipment approximately third week of July in Parlier, Calif.            (FIG. 5).        -   Cluster size.—Spur pruned vines, approximately 408 g.        -   Cluster length.—Approximately 20.5 cm.        -   Cluster width.—Approximately 11.1 cm.        -   Cluster shape.—Generally conical, occasionally with a wing            (FIG. 6).        -   Cluster density.—Medium density, on average clusters have 60            berries per cluster.        -   Clusters per vine.—Approximately 59, spur pruned vines.        -   Clusters per shoot.—Approximately 2.1 clusters per shoot,            spur pruned vines.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Size.—Length Approximately 3.95 cm.        -   Size.—Diameter Approximately 4.79 mm.        -   Color.—Plate 19 L7.        -   Texture.—Smooth and glabrous.-   Pedicel: Good attachment between berry and pedicel.    -   -   Size.—Length Approximately 9.2 mm.        -   Size.—Diameter Approximately 2.2 mm.        -   Color.—Plate 19 L5 (Cosse green).        -   Texture.—Glabrous, somewhat bumpy surface with a few brown            lenticels.        -   Brush.—Length Approximately 3.18 mm.        -   Brush.—Color Plate 55 L8 (Rubient).-   Berry:    -   -   Size.—Large, approximately 8.1 g.        -   Shape.—Elliptic (FIG. 7).        -   Length.—Approximately 2.97 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 2.19 cm.        -   Color.—Plate 40, E3 bloom removed from skin.        -   Bloom.—Abundant.-   Skin: Skin adheres well to the berry flesh.    -   -   Thickness.—Medium thickness.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Tendency to crack.—None.-   Flesh:    -   -   Texture.—Crisp and crunchy.        -   Juice production.—Moderate.        -   Color of flesh.—Generally translucent, Plate 45, A6, with            traces of anthocyanin coloration, Plate 47, L7, along            central floral axis and beneath berry skin.        -   Color of juice.—Clear.        -   Flavor.—Sweet and neutral flavor.        -   Soluble solids.—Approximately 18.4%.        -   Titratable acidity.—Approximately 0.47 g/100 ml juice.        -   Aroma.—None.        -   Ripening.—Uniform ripening throughout clusters.        -   Eating quality.—Very good.-   Disease resistance: Susceptible to powdery mildew. Fungicides were    applied to evaluated grapevines to control powdery mildew.-   Insect resistance: No known resistances to insects. Evaluated    grapevines were treated with insecticides to control leafhoppers.-   Resistance to heat/cold: New cultivar ‘Solbrio’ has only been tested    in the central San Joaquin Valley where it performs well. Its    performance is unknown when cultured in early regions where it is    exposed to high heat. Similarly, the cold hardiness of ‘Solbrio’ has    not been evaluated.-   Character of seeds: Stenospermocarpic seedless berries, averaging    1.4 small aborted seed traces per berry which are not noticeable    when eaten. When present, average seed trace size is approximately    2.6 mg mass, 3.2 mm in length and 1.6 mm in width. Seed trace color    is Plate 47 J4.-   Use: Fresh market table grape. New cultivar ‘Solbrio’ has not been    evaluated for wine or raisin qualities.-   Keeping quality: Very good.-   Shipping and handling qualities: Harvested clusters ship and handle    well with very little berry shatter.

Although the new cultivar ‘Solbrio’ possesses the described charactersnoted above as a result of growing conditions prevailing in Parlier,Calif. in the Central San Joaquin Valley of California, it is to beunderstood that the characteristics described above are subject tovariations of the usual magnitude based on growing conditions, vinetraining, irrigation and fertilization, pruning, pest control andclimatic variation.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of grapevine substantially as illustratedand described, characterized by its consistent and productive bearing oflarge-sized berries without the use of gibberellic acid bloom or sizingsprays, early-season fruit harvest, its consistent and productivebearing of fruit from spur-pruned vines and its mature berries having anattractive black skin with crisp and crunchy flesh texture and a sweetneutral flavor.